There is at least one proud Mensan representing his country at this year’s Olympic Games. John Mackey, from Massingham in Lincolnshire, will achieve a lifetime ambition when he officiates as an umpire in the table tennis competition – one of only four British umpires selected for the honour. And one of only 24 in total.

John has already represented England as an umpire at two world championships but the Olympics, he says, will be something special. “From the time of becoming a county umpire in 1996 I had an ambition to one day umpire at the Olympics but this really seemed like an impossibility and was more like a pipedream. To have now achieved my ambition is a wonderful feeling but also quite humbling, knowing I will represent Great Britain in my own country at the world’s most prestigious sporting event.”

Ironically, John became an umpire almost by accident. “I never had any burning desire to be a table tennis umpire,” he says. “In 1996 I was Scunthorpe’s representative on the Lincolnshire County table tennis committee. It is true to say that I was not the best at attending the county meetings but on this particular occasion I was feeling a pang of conscience and decided that I really must go. At the meeting the County Umpires Secretary wanted to arrange seminars in each of the leagues in Lincolnshire in the hope of getting new umpires. Nobody offered to organise such a seminar so a little reluctantly I felt that I should relieve the impasse and offer to do it. Five people attended from Scunthorpe and I was the only person who took it forward and duly qualified!

“I very soon found that being part of a tournament atmosphere was actually quite exciting and the feeling of fulfilment from being a part of the tournament was very strong. Things progressed from there.” John started officiating at international level in 2002 and is now the proud holder of the sport’s elite Blue Badge status, the requirement needed to umpire at the Olympics. Less than 250 referees in the world can claim that honour.

So what makes a good umpire? “You need to have a quick mind to make decisions instantaneously and be confident in those decisions. You also have to be open and be prepared to accept when you’ve made a mistake and correct the error,” John says. “You need to have good concentration and focus and be good at handling people and you have to have a certain presence on court so players and coaches recognise you are the person in charge.”

And will he be nervous when the big day arrives and he takes his place for the first game of the Games? Apparently not. “You quickly forget the TV cameras are there, and forget there are spectators watching,” he says. “Before the match there’s a little bit of adrenaline. “But that’s a good thing. If there wasn’t, it would be dangerous. You would be approaching it a bit blase.

"I don’t think there will be more nerves – but I will feel extra pride in representing the country.”

As to playing the game himself... John still plays in the Scunthorpe Table Tennis League but reckons he’s a better umpire than player. “When I pick up my own racket to play a local league match I am brought back to Earth with a huge bump!”

 

Originally featured in Mensa Magazine, February 2012 edition